Human deaths in encounter with elephants in Odisha, a cause of concern, says WSO

Wildlife experts expressed concerns implicit steep emergence successful quality lives successful human-elephant struggle successful Odisha with the State losing 171 lives successful 2024-25 – highest successful the country.

According to survey conducted by Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), an biology unit group, the State topped human deaths successful 2024-25 with 171 deaths, followed by Jharkhand (87), West Bengal (53), Assam (74) and Tamil Nadu (61).

“Over the past 5 years 2019-2024 Odisha recorded the highest cumulative decease of 624 deaths crossed India revealing the highly precocious levels of conflict,” said Biswajit Mohanty. WSO Secretary and erstwhile subordinate of National Biodiversity Board, connected Friday.

According to “Status of Elephants successful India: DNA based synchronous each India colonisation estimation of elephants” (2025) census carried retired by Wildlife Institute of India, Odisha has 912 elephants, compared to Karnataka’s 6,013, Assam’s 4,159, Kerala’s 2,785 and Tamil Nadu’s 3,136. Uttarkhand (1,792), West Bengal (707) and Chattisgarh (451). 

“Since 2019-20, quality kills by elephants successful Odisha roseate sharply crossing 115. Since then, it has been connected the emergence consistently crossing reaching all clip precocious of 171 successful 2024-25,” helium said. 

As per WSO estimation, February 10, 2026, the highest quality kills successful Odisha has been recorded successful Dhenkanal territory (24) followed by Keonjhar (28), Mayurbhanj(15), Angul (13), Sundergarh (12) , Deogarh (5) successful 2025-26.  

“Human kills per 100 elephants for 2024-25 is 17 for Odisha which is highest successful India compared to lone 1 per 100 elephants successful Karnataka. Despite this shocking situation it seems the authorities has turned into a soundless watcher arsenic families suffer their breadstuff winner,” informed Mr. Mohanty.

Recently, 3 women were killed and 3 women injured by a tusker portion they were collecting firewood adjacent Kapilash wildlife sanctuary.

The WSO caput attributed the emergence successful human-elephant struggle to emergence successful activities related to mining, industries and caller highways and railway postulation crossed the State.

Situation is particularly precarious successful Angul and Dhenkanal district. “The Rengali canal web successful Angul and Dhenkanal territory has disrupted property aged question paths of section elephants sparking disconnected rampant attacks connected villages and raids connected harvest fields starring to  human deaths. Elephants are trapped successful tiny pockets and are forced to ascent up steep precocious incline canal walls,” helium pointed out.

According to Mr. Mohanty, determination has been a 10 times maturation successful quarries and industries successful Dhenkanal territory arsenic per outer imagery of 2011 vs 2021 which has beardown correlation with leap successful quality deaths.

He further pointed retired that elephant question successful corridors is severely affected arsenic they are degraded by quarrying and development.

“Forest section did not notify 14 corridors them though a determination was taken by past Chief Minister successful 2012,” alleged WSO secretary.